[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 145 (Tuesday, August 10, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6283-S6284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 354--CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MILITARY 
                          AVIATION IN INDIANA

  Mr. BRAUN (for himself and Mr. Young) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
       Whereas, on February 10, 1920, the Indiana National Guard 
     was granted authority by the Department of War to organize an 
     air unit within its infantry divisions;
       Whereas, on August 1, 1921, the 137th Observation Squadron 
     at Fagley Field in Kokomo, Indiana, received recognition as 
     an Indiana National Guard unit;
       Whereas, on July 1, 1942, Bunker Hill Naval Air Station was 
     established as a training base for pilots of the United 
     States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States 
     Coast Guard;
       Whereas, in 1947, the United States Air Force was created 
     as a separate armed service, and the Indiana Air National 
     Guard was formed, comprised of the 122nd Fighter Group, the 
     113th Fighter Squadron, the 113th Utility Flight, the 112th 
     Air Service Group, and the 113th Weather Station;
       Whereas, on June 22, 1954, the former Bunker Hill Naval Air 
     Station was reopened as Bunker Hill Air Force Base;
       Whereas, on February 1, 1959, the 38th Aviation Company, 
     the aviation element of the 38th Division of the Indiana Army 
     National Guard, was formed and federally recognized;
       Whereas, on May 12, 1968, Bunker Hill Air Force Base was 
     renamed in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Virgil I. ``Gus'' 
     Grissom, a native of Indiana and 1 of 3 astronauts that 
     perished in the Apollo 1 capsule fire;
       Whereas, on January 15, 1971, the 434th Special Operations 
     Wing was reactivated at Grissom Air Reserve Base;
       Whereas the 434th Special Operations Wing has been 
     redesignated overtime and today is designated as the 434th 
     Air Refueling Wing and colloquially known as the ``Hoosier 
     Wing'';
       Whereas the original components of the Indiana Air National 
     Guard and the 38th Division aviation element have been 
     reorganized over time and today are designated as the 122nd 
     Fighter Wing, 181st Intelligence Wing, and the 38th Combat 
     Aviation Brigade;
       Whereas the Indiana Air National Guard is the aerial 
     militia of the State of Indiana and an element of the Indiana 
     National Guard;
       Whereas members of the Indiana Air National Guard and the 
     38th Combat Aviation Brigade serve to protect Hoosiers during 
     State emergencies and in national and international times of 
     crisis;
       Whereas the mission of the Indiana Air National Guard is 
     to--
       (1) provide protection of life and property, while 
     preserving peace, order, and public safety; and
       (2) maintain well-trained, well-equipped units for prompt 
     mobilization during war and national emergencies;
       Whereas the mission of the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade is 
     to--
       (1) mobilize, deploy, and conduct full spectrum aviation 
     operations in support of the 38th Infantry Division to 
     respond to State emergencies and directed missions throughout 
     Indiana; and
       (2) mobilize, deploy, and conduct aviation operations to 
     provide freedom of maneuver to United States and coalition 
     forces during war time;
       Whereas the mission of the 434th Air Refueling Wing is to--
       (1) develop and maintain the operational capability of 
     units and train reservists for worldwide duty; and
       (2) generate aircraft and crews in support of Air Mobility 
     Command;
       Whereas aviation units from Indiana have served in various 
     international conflicts since their inception, including the 
     Korean War, the Berlin Crisis, the Persian Gulf War, and 
     Operation Decisive Endeavor;
       Whereas the units have also served in the Global War on 
     Terrorism, engaging in Operation Noble Eagle air defense over 
     United States cities and deploying overseas in Operation 
     Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi

[[Page S6284]]

     Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Odyssey Dawn;
       Whereas the Indiana Air National Guard is one of 29 
     original observation squadrons of the United States Army 
     National Guard formed prior to World War II;
       Whereas the aviation units of Indiana have earned numerous 
     awards over the 100 year history of military aviation in 
     Indiana;
       Whereas military aviation in Indiana is currently composed 
     of--
       (1) the 122nd Fighter Wing stationed in Fort Wayne;
       (2) the 181st Intelligence Wing stationed in Terre Haute;
       (3) the 38th Combat Aviation Brigade headquartered in 
     Indianapolis; and
       (4) the 434th Air Refueling Wing stationed at Grissom Air 
     Reserve Base; and
       Whereas, August 1, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of 
     military aviation in Indiana: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates August 1, 2021, as the 100th anniversary of 
     military aviation in Indiana; and
       (2) recognizes the continued service of the Indiana Air 
     National Guard, the Aviation Brigade of the Indiana Army 
     National Guard, and the 434th Air Refueling Wing of the 
     United States Air Force Reserve Command.

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